Ifugao gov’t university to phase out lab high schools

LAMUT, Ifugao– School officials of the Ifugao State University here recently said laboratory high schools of the institution wou;ld soon be phased out due to lack of funds for their upkeep and to pay salaries of teachers.

IFSU has three laboratory high schools located in the municipalities of Lagawe, Alfonso Lista and Lamut where thousands of students had enrolled the previous years.

According to Eva Marie Dugyon, chief of the information and assistance department, dialogues among stakeholders including students, explained reasons for phasing out of laboratory high schools effective this school year.

“IFSU’s appropriation for maintenance and other operating expenses continues to decline, thus affecting the university’s capacity to funding its high schools,” Dugyon said.

She said with tri-focalization of the education sector wherein IFSU is covered by the Commission on Higher Education, funds for high schools were concentrated on the Department of Education.

IFSU president Serafin Ngohayon said there were major constraints in operation of the three laboratory high schools.

He said the university is spending an average of P10.5 million per year to support its three high schools.

“An average of P3.5M per high school or a P.9M per year level, two more years (senior high school under the K+12 program) would mean an additional spending of P1.8M for salaries and operating expenses for IFSU,” he added.

Ngohayon said with all constraints, IFSU has to go through the painful process of phasing out its laboratory high school so as not to sacrifice higher education to support the operation of the high schools.

AFP, PNP benefits stay; wild, text messages false

CAMP FLORENDO, La Union – Regional police director Chief Supt. Franklin Jesus B. Bucayu denied here last week existence of a proposed retirement law for the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines that would lessen benefits of personnel in the armed services contrary to text messages circulated in the region.

Bucayu said wild, text messages on a reported memorandum from the PNP directorate for plans in Camp Crame, which generated a lot of apprehension and griping, were without basis.

It was also alleged in the text messages that the proposed “PNP/AFP Retirement Law 2013” is on second reading at the Senate and contains provisions that would reduce benefits of uniformed personnel.

Other provisions reportedly included no rank promotion upon retirement, no 36 months lump sum, no AFP Retirement and Separation Benefits System (RSBS) refund/PNP Retirement Benefit Service (PRDS), 300 days leave maximum and longevity pay excluded in the retirement benefit.

Text messages also reportedly said only AFP sergeant majors will be promoted to second lieutenant.

On Feb. 29, PNP Director General Nicanor A. Bartolome sent letters to Sen. Francis Escudero,
chairman of the Senate committee on justice and human rights, and to committee secretary Horace Cruda of the committee on public order and dangerous drugs, inquiring about the status of the supposed legislative bill which has caused confusion and anxiety among uniformed personnel of the PNP, said Bucayu.

“Letter-replies of Escudero and Cruda categorically indicated there is no bill that has been filed and/or referred proposing a reduction in any of the benefits of uniformed personnel. Any text message claiming that a bill on the matter is on second reading at the Senate is not true,” Bucayu added.

UB student from Itogon tops career service exam

BAGUIO CITY — Norman C. Pentang, a third year Bachelor of Science in Criminology student of the University of Baguio (UB), obtained the highest general weighted rating in the Career Service Subprofessional Examination-Computer Assisted Test (CAT) for the months of January and February this year.

The 18-year old UB student from Itogon, Benguet garnered a rating of 89.43% and topped the other 129 Subprofessional examinees that took the examinations for the said months.

Of the examinees, at least 17 UB students passed the subprofessional examinations and are now eligible for first level positions in government service even before graduation.

Inspiring students to take the Career Service Examination will help them prepare for government-administered examinations they plan to take in the future, according to Dr. Victor O. Delos Santos, Dean of UB’s School of Law Enforcement Administration.

He added that the CSC examinations, like the Computer Assisted Test (CAT) and the Paper-and-Pencil Test (PPT), may be used by universities and colleges to train students for the board examinations.
Because of the success of this endeavour and its strategic priority to build partnerships and strengthen linkages with the local tertiary institutions, CSC-CAR has scheduled on-site filing of application from March 19 to March 30, 2012 in various universities and colleges for the Career Service Examination – Paper-and-Pencil Test (CSE-PPT) on May 27.

All applicants are required to submit: (a) four (4) identical copies of their recently-taken passport size pictures with handwritten name tag and signature over printed name; (b) original and photocopy of a valid ID; and (c) five hundred pesos (Php500) examination fee. Applicants may also file in the CSC-CAR Regional Office or any CSC Field Office. The deadline for the examination application is on April 12, 2012.

For more information on the CSC examinations, please call the Examination Services Division of the CSC-CAR Regional Office at (074) 442-0367. To learn more about the other services of CSC-CAR, please call (074)443-5981 or (074)443-5982. You may also visit the CSC-CAR Regional Office at 116 Wagner Road, Military Cut-off, Baguio City.

Officials, militant group hit attack against 86th IB: Fear grips folk, army operations on vs NPA

TINOC, Ifugao – The mayor here said fear now grips his constituents after the army launched massive operations here last week in search of New People’s Army guerrillas who ambushed and killed 11 soldiers and a civilian in this town last April 25.

Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat, the militant Cordillera People’s Alliance, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Sec. Teresita Deles, police andother national officials condemned the attack.

This, as Mayor Lopez Pugong said his constituents, especially those in the village of Binablayan, which is near the ambush site are now thinking of fleeing their homes for fear that hostilities could erupt again ad they could be caught in the crossfire.

The men slain in the ambush were identified as: Capt. SeigfredKafilas, Staff Sgt. Domingo Torres, Corporal EsmaelLazaro, Private First Class JojoDawaton, PFC Kennedy Ragutero, PFC Crismar M. David, PFC VillamorSannadan Jr. Private June Villora, Private RonelSalud, Private Ronald Lorenzo,and Private Ferdinand Nalliw.

Among those who died was civilian Aimee Labug who was the lead singer of the military band. .

Injured were Lt. Nabatias and Private First Class Lopez and civilian, Jefferson dela Cruz.

Following complaints of residents of danger to their lives due to ongoing military operations in the province, Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., Armed Forces spokesman said in Manila. Said these were only directed at NPA guerrillas involved in the ambush

In Lagawe, the capital town of Ifugao, police condemned the ambush, even as provincial police director Senior Supt. Lawrence Mombael said they were helping the army in investigating the incident.

Mombael said the ambush happened when soldiers of the 86th IB were going back to their camp in Kiangan town after attending the turnover ceremony of the next batch of army men deployed in said municipality.

Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr. also condemned the attack against the 86th Infantry Battalion and called for justice for the fallen soldiers.

In an official statement, Baguilatsaid , “I strongly condemn the treacherous and unprovoked attack by elements of the National Democratic Front-New People’s Army against the army who was ferrying civilians in Barangay Gumhang-Binablayan in said town. Ten soldiers and a civilian were killed while three others were injured during the incident.

“As a brother of someone who died in line of duty, I commiserate with and send my condolences to the 86th IB and the families of our brave soldiers who died in that devious attack,” Baguilat said adding that the treachery is magnified by the fact that nowhere in the world is an attack against civilians recognized as a legitimate military strike.

Baguilat said the attack only emphasized the NPA’s conflict against the government has lost its essence and reason.

The 86th IB deployed in the province reportedly helped in relief operations during disaster.

Baguilat called on every Ifugao and every peace-loving Filipino to join him in denouncing the violence brought by the conflict between the National Democratic Front-NPA and the Philippine government in Tinoc and in neighboring Asipulo.

Baguilat added the attack has negated gains of government projects such as the Cordillera Highland Agricultural Resource Management Program (CHARMP) and the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS).

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process led by Sec. Teresita Deles also condemned the attack against government forces.

“I call on every Ifugao and every peace-loving Filipino to join me in denouncing the violence brought by the conflict between the NDF-NPA and the Philippine Government in Tinoc and in neighboring Asipulo. Let us join in prayer that justice may be done for the wounded and the fallen and that such senseless violence be ended…”

In Malacañang, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said pursuit operations were still ongoing.
“Stalled pongayonang talks natin with the CPP-NPA-NDF dahil sila po ayaw lumapit sa atin sa negotiating table but bukas pa rin ho kami. Ang ating hangarin talaga po ay magkaroon tayo ng kapayapaan.
“But, having said that, patuloy po tayo. Hindi po tayo tumitigil, dahil wala naman tayong cease fire po on both sides. We will be going after those people who were responsible for these atrocities,” Lacierda said.

The Cordillera Peoples Alliance also condemned the attack which was done in celebration of their own Cordillera Day.

Geraldine Cacho of the Tongtongan Ti Umili – CPA said that the “attack on the soldiers was uncalled for. The violence should stop to prevent more bloodshed, from the government side and even the rebels as well.”

Last week, the fallen heroes were given posthumous promotion and their families given financial assistance in Camp MelchorDela Cruz, Gamu, Isabela.

Jueteng thriving in Cordillera provinces

BAGUIO CITY – Jueteng is still thriving in this city and Cordillera provinces Benguet, Abra, Kalinga and Bauko, a town of Mountain Province, sources said.

In Benguet, towns which were identified where jueteng was rampant were La Trinidad, Itogon, Tublay, Mankayan and Buguias.

In Mankayan, town police arrested last week Adoro B. Copis, 32, of Barangay Bedbed here while collecting jueteng bets.

Confiscated from him at barangay Guinaoang were were pieces of paper wherein number combinations were written and cash worth P175.

Copis was brought to local police station where charges for illegal gambling were prepared against him.

Sources said the extent of jueteng is such that even government officials are involved in the illegal numbers game as “protectors,” in exchange for money.

But officials like those from the Philippine National Police who have been alluded to, have denied being involved in the menace.

In the case of the PNP they cited arrests of kubradors (bet collectors) to attest to their drive against illegal gambling.

In Baguio, city police reported out of 33 operations last year, 143 persons were arrested, 31 cases were filed in court and cash bets amounting to P 20, 873 were confiscated from kubradors.

For this year from January up to present, city police conducted three anti-illegal gambling operations resulting to arrest of seven persons with three cases filed in court.

Cash bets confiscated totaled to P1,600. Latest arrests were done at Barangay Upper Rock Quarry where two jueteng bet collectors were arrested city police intelligence unit led by Chief Insp. NachorBaucas March 7.

Suspected bet collectors were identified as Joseph L. Bukat, 24 of Barangay City Camp Proper and John Michael Dela Cruz, 24 of Rock Quarry.

Confiscated from Bukat were cash bets amounting to P245 and hueteng paraphernalia while confiscated evidence from John Michael Dela Cruz were cash bets amounting to P270 and also jueteng paraphernalia.

A case for violation of Republic Act 9287 (illegal gambling) was set to be filed against the suspects and were released on “promise to appear” on order of inquest prosecutor Rolando T Vergara.

Banaue has zero crime rate: police

BANAUE, Ifugao – Believe it or not, but this tourist town had no crime incidents this year.

This, according to police who said this was due to strategy and community cooperation.

Senior Insp. Leo Apolonio Paddaon, chief of police, said local cops are continuously conducting barangay patrols and constantly inspecting vital installations such cell sites, banks and other establishments.

“The policemen are also implementing campaign against illegal gambling, illegal logging, illegal drugs, other special laws and municipal and barangay ordinances,” he said.

“We also conduct lectures on illegal drugs, illegal gambling, Republic Act 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act and RA 9262 (Violence Against Women and Children).

He attributed the zero crime rate to the active participation of the barangay protection action teams he considers their partners in crime prevention and on internal security operations.

Barangay peace and order councils have also reportedly been organized in crime prone areas as pilot areas: Barangays Viewpoint, Tam-an, Bocos and Poblacion.

“We also conduct monthly visits in all barangays here conducting lectures for barangay officials and tanods for the maintenance of peace and order within their barangay,” Paddaon said.

Aside from providing protection to residents, police also give assistance and protection to local and foreign tourists who visit the Banaue Rice Terrace and other tourist spots in the area.

Paddaon bared that the MPS intends to implement the Pulis sa Barangay program of the national government in which every barangay has one assigned police officer to monitor and give assistance to any problem that disturb peace and order.

Another program which will soon be implemented is the ‘Pulis ko Teacher ko’ which seeks to strengthen a close partnership of the schools and the police wherein every quarter a team from this station will conduct school visitations and conduct info drive to the pupils and students.

He said police also conduct school based activities such as distribution of notebooks, pencils, erasers in far flung elementary schools of Barangays Bangaan, Anaba and Ducligan.

Paddaon also bared since this town is a landslide- prone area, his office will coordinate with the local government unit of Banaue for a search and rescue training while proposaing purchase of search and rescue equipment.

UB student from Itogon tops career service exam

BAGUIO CITY — Norman C. Pentang, a third year Bachelor of Science in Criminology student of the University of Baguio (UB), obtained the highest general weighted rating in the Career Service Subprofessional Examination-Computer Assisted Test (CAT) for the months of January and February this year.

The 18-year old UB student from Itogon, Benguet garnered a rating of 89.43% and topped the other 129 Subprofessional examinees that took the examinations for the said months.

Of the examinees, at least 17 UB students passed the subprofessional examinations and are now eligible for first level positions in government service even before graduation.

Inspiring students to take the Career Service Examination will help them prepare for government-administered examinations they plan to take in the future, according to Dr. Victor O. Delos Santos, Dean of UB’s School of Law Enforcement Administration.

He added that the CSC examinations, like the Computer Assisted Test (CAT) and the Paper-and-Pencil Test (PPT), may be used by universities and colleges to train students for the board examinations.
Because of the success of this endeavour and its strategic priority to build partnerships and strengthen linkages with the local tertiary institutions, CSC-CAR has scheduled on-site filing of application from March 19 to March 30, 2012 in various universities and colleges for the Career Service Examination – Paper-and-Pencil Test (CSE-PPT) on May 27.

All applicants are required to submit: (a) four (4) identical copies of their recently-taken passport size pictures with handwritten name tag and signature over printed name; (b) original and photocopy of a valid ID; and (c) five hundred pesos (Php500) examination fee. Applicants may also file in the CSC-CAR Regional Office or any CSC Field Office. The deadline for the examination application is on April 12, 2012.

For more information on the CSC examinations, please call the Examination Services Division of the CSC-CAR Regional Office at (074) 442-0367. To learn more about the other services of CSC-CAR, please call (074)443-5981 or (074)443-5982. You may also visit the CSC-CAR Regional Office at 116 Wagner Road, Military Cut-off, Baguio City.

P’sinan ex-vice mayor, village chief shot dead

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – A former vice-mayor of this town and his wife were shot dead Wednesday night in Sampaloc, Manila.

Philippine National Police spokesman Agrimero Cruz Jr. in Camp Crame, identified the victims as Ramon Arcinue, 55 and his wife Zorahayda, 55, a village captain.

Initial investigation revealed that an unidentified gunman shot the victims at close range when they were alighting from the vehicle in front of their rented apartment in Sampaloc around 10:50 p.m.

The victims were rushed to a hospital but were declared dead by the attending physician after an hour of medical attention.

The couple was ambushed in front of their children’s rented apartment.
According to a report by Sampaloc station commander Supt. Rolando Balasbas, Ramon Arcinue and his wife, Zorahayda, both 55, had dinner with their two sons at a mall and had just arrived at the apartment on Maceda Street when they were attacked.

Zorahayda was the incumbent barangay chairperson of Barangay Poblacion in Lingayen. Their son, JC, will graduate this March.

Ramon was reportedly heard having an argument with the gunman before he was shot.
Zorahayda, upon hearing the noise outside the apartment, went outside and was also attacked.

They were shot in the head.

The attacker spared their sons, along with other family members who rushed the couple to the University of Santo Tomas Hospital. They were declared dead about an hour later.

Witnesses said the attacker fled on foot and boarded a bus along Espana Boulevard.

Pangasinan Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil, who went to the hospital after learning of the attack, condemned the killing and assured the couple’s relatives including their nephew, Sual, Pangasinan Mayor Johnb Arcinue – that he will follow up the case and coordinate security measures for the family.

Bataoil, a retired police officer and a former Philippine National Police spokesman, said he already talked to the officer of the Manila Police District “to leave no stone unturned” and had advised Pangasinan police director Senior Supt. Rosueto Ricaforte to assist, coordinate and share information.”

Lingayen Mayor Ernesto Castaneda Jr. said he was saddened by the Arcinue couple’s death.

In March last year, Ramon and Zorahayda were wounded in an ambush along the national highway in Barangay Biec, Binmaley town.

BCDA, lessee ‘war’ over Camp John Hay escalates

BAGUIO CITY – The “war” between the Bases Conversion Development Authority and its lessee, the Camp John Hay Development Corp. has escalated with the BCDA saying the Sobrepena-led CJH DevCo was only using the courts to evade payment of their lease arrears, which has reached P3 billion to date.

BCDA president and chief executive Arnel Paciano Casanova said the Sobrepena-led CJHDevco has been filing cases in court to evade payment of their debts for leasing 247 hectares of the John Hay Special Economic Zone.

This was after Baguio Regional Trial Court Judge Mona Lisa Tabora issued a status quo order to both BCDA and CJHDevCo until she comes up with a decision on the case.

However, CJHDevCo has denied claims it was using the courts to escape its financial obligations, saying it only had done so to prevent the government’s BCDA from carrying out an illegal takeover.

Alfredo Yniguez, CJHDevCo operating vice president and chief executive officer, said the BCDA should just wait for the decision of the court and should stop crucifying the developer in the media so that it could justify its planned takeover of the former US rest and recreation facility.

Casanova said, “BCDA is confident the courts will issue a fair decision, because it is the city of Baguio that will be on the losing end of the ongoing impasse if CJHDevco’s financial obligations remain unpaid.”

“We simply have no choice but to resort to the protection of the court,” Yniguez, said in explaining the company’s decision to go to seek a permanent restraining order against the planned BCDA takeover.

Judge Tabora stated during the hearing that she will not grant CJHDevco a writ of preliminary injunction if the lessee will only use this as an excuse to evade paying obligations to government.

Tabora added she disagreed with CJHDevCo’s allegations that BCDA was in breach of the contract because of the Supreme Court ruling nullifying tax incentives in the economic zone. She said the ruling was beyond BCDA’s control, so it cannot be construed as a breach on BCDA’s part.

BCDA external counsel Demetrio Custodio explained that the SC ruling was eventually cured by the passing of Republic Acts (RA) 9399 and 9400, two laws that granted tax amnesty to John Hay locators and restored tax incentives in the economic zone.

CJHDEVCO, which has poured in close to P3 billion in projects since it won the bid to redevelop John Hay in 1996, has been locked in a dispute with the BCDA over its decision to suspend lease payments as a result of a 2003 Supreme Court decision that took away the area’s special economic zone benefits that, in turn, affected the company’s development plans.

According to Yniguez, the firm, which is behind the Camp John Hay Manor Hotel, the Camp John Hay Suites Hotel and the Camp John Hay Golf Club, had actually agreed to comply with its obligations under a debt structuring arrangement with BCDA on the condition that the state-owned firm would set up a One-Stop Action Center to facilitate the issuance of permits and other requirements within 30 days.

“We are being required to comply fully to a financial obligation which compliance by us would only be rendered doable or possible if BCDA does not breach its obligations,” Yniguez said, adding that CJHDevCo had to suspend its lease payments because BCDA reneged on its own obligations by failing to act on their request for permits within the agreed period.

Yniguez also took exception to BCDA claims that it has only been CJHDevCo that has been complaining about the issuance of permits and that there have been no issues about from other locators such as Ayala Land Incorporated, the Asian Institute of Management and the Intercontinental Hotel Groups.

Records show that the OSAC has been issuing more than 80 permits a year. In 2011 alone, it issued a total of 89 permits to CJHDevCo and other locators.

Reports also show that only CJHDevco is complaining about the permits. Other locators within the JHSEZ, including Ayala Land Inc., the Asian Institute of Management and Intercontinental Hotels Group, have not echoed CJHDevco’s complaints against the BCDA.

“CJHDevco has pending permits, but that doesn’t mean the OSAC isn’t operational,” Casanova said, adding that BCDA cannot grant CJHDevco’s demands for the issuance of permits if they lack the documents needed to process the permits. Moreover, the lessee’s demand for permits to cut and earth ball more than 1,000 pine trees in John Hay is a function not delegated by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

“How can the Intercon Hotel Group and AIM file complaints against BCDA when these two entities are operated by BCDA itself?” Yniguez asked. “Ayala Land will also not complain because unlike CJHDevCo, it is able to secure its permits from BCDA within 30 days as claimed by BCDA chairman FelicitoPayumo himself.”

“How come mere sub-locators like Ayala Land, get their permits on time from BCDA, while the principal locator, CJHDevCo, is subjected to late issuance of permits? Yniguez also asked.

“The way things are, CJHDevCo is deliberately being set up by BCDA to fail so that it could easily justify its planned takeover,” Yniguez said, adding that company had no choice but to bring the issue for arbitration by the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center in December and later to seek protection from the Baguio Regional Trial Court to avert a BCDA takeover attempt.

Tabora said that this case is a unique one and might exhaust most of her working hours. She said that she had to pore through six inches of claims and counterclaims presented by the two counsels.

CJHDevCo denies claims of squatting in John Hay

BAGUIO CITY — The Camp John Hay Development Corporation denied claims by the Bases Conversion Development Authority that it had illegally occupied a small portion of the former US recreational facility and described the purported filing of a criminal case against its officials as part of the strong arm tactics, including continued harassment and intimidation being employed by the state-run firm to justify an illegal takeover.

Alfredo Yniguez III, CJHDevCo executive vice president and chief executive officer, said published accusations by BCDA that the Sobrepena-owned company illegally occupied some 600 square meters of prime land near a sewage treatment plant (STP-6) within the 247-hectare John Hay Special Economic Zone are untrue.

“As far as we are concerned, there is no squatting here,” Yniguez pointed out, saying the security facilities of War Bird Security Agency BCDA claimed to have been illegally constructed actually falls within the 247-hectare leased area that CJH Devco has been developing over the past 16 years.

“We deplore the strong-arm tactics being resorted to by BCDA in its bid to justify a takeover of John Hay,” Yniguez said, adding that the filing of the case before the Department of Justice is just the latest in a series of actions aimed at seizing control of CJH Devco projects that include the popular Camp John Hay Manor Hotel and the Camp John Hay Golf Club.

He said the filing of the case for alleged violation of Section 27 of the Urban Housing Development Act of 1992 was an offshoot of the company’s recent success in securing a temporary restraining order (TRO) from a Baguio court from any takeover by the state-run firm, BCDA. Yniguez said CJH Devco was able to secure the TRO after providing evidence that BCDA was amassing security forces in preparation for an illegal takeover.

“The motives of BCDA in this latest attack on CJH Devco’s security personnel are clear,” Yniguez said. “BCDA seeks to deplete the security forces of CJH Devco to forcibly and illegally take over John Hay.”

Responding to BCDA’s latest statement, Yniguez said what its service provider, Warbird Security and Investigation Agency, actually erected were outposts and other temporary security facilities that were primarily intended to secure the Camp John Hay Manor and other vital facilities within the CJH Devco area such as sewage treatment plant (STP- 6) and the popular Eco-Trail area.

“Considering the importance of the sewage treatment plant and the fact that the Eco-Trail is a fairly isolated area, security facilities were erected there to help secure not only that facility but also the many John Hay visitors who walk through the Eco-Trail every day,” Yniguez said.

These latest attempts by BCDA to take out CJH Devco’s security contractor, Warbird, in the 247-hectare leased area will result in the loss of CJH Devco’s security controls and safety measures which threatens the safety and security not only for 2,600 employees working within the camp but also for thousands of tourists and visitors who frequent the camp on a daily basis.

“Setting up temporary security facilities in strategic locations within an area being secured is a standard practice in the security industry,” he said, adding that contrary to BCDA claims, there were neither families nor roosters in the temporary facilities.

Yniguez also scored BCDA for using the squatting issue as a reason in not renewing the business permit of Warbird, which has been its contracted security provider since Camp John Hay was turned over by BCDA to CJH Devco in 1996.

“This denial only this instance by BCDA’s subsidiary, John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC), of the permit-to-operate to Warbird clearly shows BCDA’s harassment of CJH Devco’s security personnel with a goal of depleting the security personnel of CJH Devco to afford BCDA’s hidden agenda of an illegal takeover of John Hay,” Yniguez said.

Yniguez said BCDA’s bid remains unsuccessful as CJH Devco was able to renew and obtain a business permit for Warbird from the Baguio City Hall.

The latest controversy is part of the ongoing dispute between CJH Devco and BCDA over the suspension of rental payments to BCDA resulting from BCDA’s continued breaches, the latest of which is their inability to comply with a specific guaranty in the July 2008 Restructuring Memorandum of Agreement (RMOA) to set-up a functioning One Stop Action Center (OSAC) to issue permits within a ’30-day period’.

Prior to this, a major breach occurred in 2003 when a Supreme Court decision took away Camp John Hay’s Special Economic Zone tax benefits and fiscal incentives, a prime warranty of BCDA during the bidding process, which was eventually restored by Congress after a 5-year impasse, but which, in turn, significantly stalled the company’s development plans.

After being awarded the right to develop the camp in 1996, BCDA initially failed to deliver the Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) and 32 hectares of the leased area, which took almost 4 years to resolve. Altogether, CJH Devco lost 12 years and billions in revenues due to BCDA’s series of breaches.